Rotary valve.



Patented June n, |901. G. n. ELL|oTT.

ROTARY VALVE. (Nn Model.)

(Appumion mea my 7, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Inveni",

' Gilberf R-Elli0/5 H bte-rug,

Patented lune |9ol.

G. R. ELLIUTT. ROTARY VALVE. (Appiminn mm my 7, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- (No Model.)

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G. R. ELLIOTT.- RUTABY VALVE.

(Apphcatinn l d my 7 1901) 3 4Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT R. ELLIOTT, OF BOSTON,l MASSACHUSETTS.

ROTARY VALVE.

SPEGIETCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,179, dated June 11, 1901.

Appiicantn ned Mai-G11 7, 1901.

lo @Z5 whom Lt may concern,.-

Be it known that 1, GILBERT R. ELLIOTT, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Valves, of which the following is 'a full, clear, and exact description. n

This invention is in the line of valves for steam and `other engines, the object being to constructa valve which shall be simple and inexpensive and still capable of all the advantages secured by the complicated and costly Corliss valve, so far as relates to avoidance of wiredrawing the steam, obviating back pressure, adjusting the steam-inlet to the load, saving in quantity of steam used, producing a perfectly-balanced valve, and thus preventing loss vof power through friction, permitting of thev easy reversal of the engine, and at the same time accomplishing all this and more with a valve comprising but a single moving part and two adjustable ones.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of my valve. Fig. 2 is a central horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line X X in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line Y Yin Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the rotary member of main inlet-valve. Fig. Gis aperspective View of the out-off valve. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the reversing-valve. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the blocks forming part of the reversing-valve. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the mechanism for transmitting power from the driveshaft to the valve-shaft. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the combinationcranks therefor, and Fig. 11 is an end view of the same.

My valve comprises the casing 1,cylindrical in form and provided With the head 3, and the three cylindrical members located Within the casing. Steam is introduced to the valve through the pipe 5, and the exhaust taken therefrom through the pipe G,wl1ile the steam passes to and from the valve tothe enginecylinder through the channeled arms 2.

Revoluble in bearings 4 and 8 is a shaft 10,

Serial No. 50,210. (No model.)

arated a sufficient distance to freely admit the steam from the pipe 5 into theinterior of the valve member 15, as shown in Fig. 1.

Immediately'surrounding the main inletvalve is a cylindrical shell 20, fitting snugly enough to prevent the passage of steam between the contiguous surfaces, whileat the same time permitting free rotation of said valve Within said shell. Through this shell is a slot 21, located in line with the space between the valve members, said slot extending about three-fourths of thecircumference of the shell, but leaving a sufficient neck 22 to rigidly unite the sections of the shell. Through said shell are two other slots 23, both in the same plane and separated by the two narrow necks or blocks 24,. These slots are located in the same plane with the ports 16. Near the opposite end of the-shell 2O are two other slots, 25, located in the plane of the port 12, but the necks 26 separating the same being so thinned down as to make practically one continuous slot or channel, and the only object of such necks being to bind the parts together. To further render said slots practically continuous, I groove the shell 30 immediately exterior to said slots or channel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, in order to allow free passage of the exhaust-steam past the said necks 26. Fitting su ugly between said shell 2O and the casing 1 is another shell 30, constituting the reversing-valve. This shell is formed with a slot 31, located in line withthe slot 21 of the shell 20, in order to permit of the passage of steam from the pipe 5 to the interior of the valve member 16. This shell is given four other openings 32-two diametrically opposite ones in line with the `slot 2 5 and two similar ones in line with the slots 23. These openings are made cruciform, as shown in Fig.- 7, the portion 33 of each opening being designed to receive the block 35, and thereby IOO Yes

lengthened to 'enter the opening-secti'ons'33 and be thereby held from displacement circumferentially. The outer face of each block Io is made convex to tit the inner surface of the casing 1, and its inner face is concaved to'iit I 41,45, connected with the double cranks fixed :upon ,said shafts.

-sists of the crank-arm 40, having crank-pin p the outerV surface -otthe maininlet-valve.

The operation of myvalve is .best understood by reference to Figs. 3 and 4. As shown let-valve brings the port 16 out--frombeneath the'block 3,5,totghe space between said block l `and thejneck or bridge 24: the live steam instantjly passes through said port, space, and l 2o the Aqpge'n'ing 32 to vthe channel 2a, from Which it goes ,to the end of the engine-cylinder. At ythe'same time the .port 12 emerges from beheath i-t'sfblock ,35 and permits the exhauststeainirom-the:opposite end of the cylinder l tofto-w-'out through the channel 2b, ope-ning 32b,slot-j25, port 1.2, and thence to the ekhaust-l pipe-@as soon as the port 16 passes entirely beneatlhthe neck or bridge 2L1'and from thence tothe dead-space between said bridge and the f epposilterblock 55 no more steam can enter.'` the cylinder; but-that already admittedA mustr l tvo-rkyexpansively for the remainder of'the stroke. "The port 12, on the other hand, isg

f never closed except when beneath a bl-ock 35. 3 ,Henc-ejthe exhaust can freely escape through thejwhole stroke and until the piston-head'` Ialmost; reaches the cylinder-head, the freelesj" 'cape' serving to reduce back pressure to a minimum, Whiletheltemporary closure gives the, desired cushioning effect to the piston at the end of each stroke. f'Fig. 4 illustrates the valve as adapted to shut off the live steam at about one-eighth" stroke. To Work with considerably lessexpansi'on,the lever 27 is moved over to the rightftothe position 27 or wherever else desired; but at Vthe vproposedv point the steam weuld'be cut-oi at half-stroke. If adjusted still farthenfor until the bridge 24 meets the 3 bleckB-a, the steam would be cnt off at about If, on the other hand, 2

said bridge is adjusted toward the block 35,1 the steam is cut off more and more quickly g untilif said parts come together the steam l Wou'ldb'e cutoff altogether and the engine pcd.; Itwill therefore 'be evident that Ii `a range .of adjustment Varyingefrom ghths or nine-tenths down to Zero. urtabl'y connecting the lever 27 with the l gine-governor, as indicated by Fig. 9, such Variations in cut-off are automatically proi vided'forin accordance withthe load on the seven-eighths stroke.

' engine.

' loreve'rse the engine, all that is necessary l is to shiftthe shell 30 to bring the ports 32c lj in line `Withthe channels 2, this shifting or adjustingbeng done by means of the lever byFig. 4, when therotationof the main iny 37, and-.suitablestops 38 being-provided for limitingthe movements of the lever and bringing an edge of each block 35 35L in line With the center of the channel 2, as shown in Fig.

4. It will be observed that this shift ot' said shell similarly moves the exhaust-blocks 35 relative to the channels 2b. (Shown in Fig. 3.)

In order to perfectly rotate the shaft 10 in unison with the drive-shaft of the engine, I have devised the construction illustrated by Fig. 9. This comprises the two parallel oars Each double crank con- 42, with a second crank-arm 41, rigidly projecting from said-pin at an angle of-forty-Iive degrees wit-l1 a plane centrally cutting the ishaft and crank 40,"t-helengthof saidv second crank-arm being such as to bring the crankpinli at a'distance from the shaft prolon-g-athe Width-of each opening 32 in order thattheblocks 35 may be shifted in reversingthe engine to bring their edges in eac-h 'case to `eX- actly the saine point. vBy thus bringing the edges of the blocks iiush with the center-lines of the casing-ports I am enabled to rever-se the engine with perfectA accuracy .as `to 'lap and lead and to accomplis-h what-has never before been done with a rotary valve.'

From the above description itl is evident that this val-ve is simple, easily constructed, and comparativelyinexpensive. It does not Wiredraw the steam, for the reason that the steam is always admitted through practically a `wide-open port, no matter to what extent the engine isA working eXpan-sively. AIn my valve it is the length Vof ltime during which the port remains Wide open by Which-'the variations in expansion are obtained; n-ot rthe variations in Width of opening,as ,in-the ordinary'slide-valve. The position ofthe necks 24 (shown in Fig. 4;) is practicallythe extreme limit in working eXpansively, for in ordinary running said necks, are Aadjusted to points quite a little farther from the blocks 35.K

This valve saves the engine from the usual defect of the ordinary slidelvalve-th-at of back pressure, when working 'eXpansively-a 1 contracts the exhaust-opening, and so makes it more diiicult for the exhaust to-escape, the energy required for thus forcing it o'ut'from the cylinder causing the back pressure complained of. Even when the engine isadjusted IOO IIO

'tohcut off at three-quarters s'trokethis back essary to manipulate the throttle-valve in varying the power desired from the engine;

but the adjustment is obtained by shifting the cut-off shell 20, even to the extent of stopping tho engine. Since one of the greatest causes of wiredrawing arises from nearly closing the throttle to reduce the amount of steam admitted to the steam-chest of the ordinary engine, I get rid of this cause also for the loss of power.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, the main inlet.

valve being separated into two sections with the steam admitted between them there is no more pressure 011 the valve in one direction than in the opposite, and it is hence perfectly balanced, thus saving the great loss of power in friction, which is caused by the excessive pressure of the usual slide-valve upon its seat in the steam-chest.

While my valve is well adapted for use in connection with stationary engines for general power, it is especially valuable for hoisting-engines, automobiles, locomotives, and

marine engines. Its particular adaptability to automobiles arises from its simplicity, inexpensiveness, slight weight, and perfection of reversal and cut off.

WhatI claim as my invention and for which I desire to secure Letters Patent, is as follows, to wit:

l. The combination of the casing having the ports and the steam inlet and exhaust;

'and the rotary main inlet-valve therein, having the two diametrically opposite ports, one communicating with the steam-inlet and the other with the exhaust; the casing being adapted to cut od the exhaust-steam to the eXhaust-port for but a fraction ofthe valves revolution, and to cut olf the live steam from the valve-port for at least double the said fraction, substantially as described.

2. In a valve, the combination of the casing having the peripheral ports and steam inlet and exhaust; the main inlet-valve revoluble within said casing and having the two peripheral, diametrically opposite ports, one communicating with the steam-inlet and the other with the exhaust; a member surrounding said valve and having two annular slots one in lthe same plane with the exhaust-valve port and stopped at two diametrically opposite points, and the other slot stopped at two diametrically opposite points, but with the extent of such stoppage largely in excess of that of the former slot, substantially as described.

3. In a valve, the combination of the casing having the peripheral ports and steam inlet and exhaust; the hollow, cylindrical, revoluble main inlet-valve having the two ports, one communicating with the steam-inlet and the other with the' exhaust; a shell surrounding said valve, and having the two slots therein, the one in the plane of the inlet-valve port being permanently stopped at two diametrically opposite points; and four blocks,

two stopping each slot atl diametrically opposite points in close proximity-to the casingports, substantially as described.

4. In a valve, the combination of the cylindrical casing having the ports and steam inlet and exhaust; the main inlet-valve revoluble therein; the shell between said valve and casing and having the annular slots in line with said casing-ports; means for angularly adj nsting said shell; the blocks held in said slots independent of the adjustment of the shell; and means for preventing the passage of steam longitudinally between the shell and casing, substantially as described.

5. In a valve, the combination of the casing having the centrally-located steam-inlet in its periphery, the terminal exhaust and the peripheral ports; the rotating shaft concentric with said casing; and the two cup-shaped valves fixed on said shaft and opening in the same direction but with a space between them communicating with the steam inlet, and each having a peripheral port communicating with the casing-ports, substantially as described.

6. In a valve, the combination of the cylindrical casing having the peripheral ports, the central steam-inlet and the terminal ex* haust; -the main inlet-valve comprising the two cup-shaped sections rotatable in unison; the adjustable shell having the two slots in line with the said casing-ports, and the slot in line with the steam-inlet; and the blocks stopping said slots but not moving therewith, substantially as described.

7. In a valve, the combination of the casing having the ports and the steam inlet and exhaust; the main inlet-valve revoluble within said casing and having the ports; the slotted shell surrounding said valve; the shell lling the balance of the space between said casing and the rstnamed shell and having the openings; blocks heldin said openings but filling only the central part of each, said blocks projecting through the slots of the first-named shell and stopping the same; and means for angularly shifting the last-named shell, substantially as described.

8. In a valve, the combination ofthe casing having the enlarged ports; the main inletvalve revoluble within the same; and a cutoff valve comprising blocks normally held with an edge of each coincident with the center line of one of said casing-ports, but adaptL ed, for the reversal of the engine, to have IOO IIO

said blocks shifted to bring their oppositeg edges in the same lines, substantially as described.

9. In a valve, the combination of the casing vhaving the ports and the steam inlet and eX- i haust; the two part revoluble main inleti valve; the slotted shell surround-ing said valve; the shell fllin g the balance of the space between the easing and the first-named shell, l and having the steam-,inlet slot and the cruveiform openings; the shouldered bloekstting in the central parts of t-he said openings' and stopping the slotsin the first-named shell; and means for angularly shifting the lasti named shell, substantially as described.

l0. In a \-alve,the Combination f the'easing l having theports and the steam inlet and exi haust; the'maininletevalve revolubvle Within the easing and having the diametrieally opf p'osite but `non communicating ports; the shellsurrounding said valve and having the 'f slot in line With the steam-inlet andthe slots 'in line with the Valve-ports, the slot inline `with one valve-port being entirllyT stopped at two diametrieally opposite points, and the other slot crossed at two points by radiallyy thinnedjnnetures,substantiallyasdescribed.

1l. In a valve,the combination of the casing having the ports and the steam inlet and eX- haust; the main inlet-valve having the periphf eral, non-communicable ports; the shell surrounding said valve and having the annular slots vin the planes of said Valve-ports, the

slot'coacting with the live-steam .port'being stopped at two diametric'allyoppositepoints;

.eut-o" blocks held in said slots-g and-agev- `slots in line'withthe valve-portatile slot in line with one valveport being entirelystopped at twoA diametrieally opposite points, and the other slot being crossed by radially-thinned .junetures; a shellilling the bala-nee-ei'4 the space between `said .easing and .the firstnained shell, and'havin'g theslot in line'l'with the said steam-inlet, and the fouropenings in the planes of the valve-ports,its inn'er lsurface being grooved inthe plane oftheslot having the radially-thinned jnn-ctures; and

Vblocks held in said openings, substantially as described. n y

In testimonythat I claim-the foregoinglin- Vention Irhave hereuntorset myhand this 4th day of March, 1901.

GILBERT R. ELLIOTT.

Witnesses:

FA E. CALLER, A. B. UPHAM. 

